TRAIN drivers and conductors have called off plans for a nationwide strike that would have affected rail services from this evening.

Three unions - CGT, UNSA and CFDT - were planning to walk out over proposed changes to open up SNCF to competition but backed down after a meeting with SNCF management yesterday morning.

The strike would have coincided with the introduction of the new winter timetable, which workers say requires "an increase in productivity" without any extra staffing.

Some services in Champagne-Ardenne and Brittany might still be disrupted, as a conductors' union Sud has decided to go ahead with industrial action at a local level.

You can check your local train service disruptions at www.ter-sncf.com